CBS today announced dates for the fall premieres of its new and returning series, which include a pre-season debut for SURVIVOR: GABON and the launch of its Thursday and Friday drama series in early October. The Network will introduce the majority of its schedule beginning Monday, Sept. 22, the official start of the 2008-2009 season.

For the seventh consecutive season, SURVIVOR: GABON, the 17th installment of the hit reality series, will debut a week prior to the formal start of the season, returning on Thursday, Sept. 18 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT).

CBS’s new season rollout officially begins on Monday, Sept. 22 with the second season premiere of THE BIG BANG THEORY (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT), the fourth season debut of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT), the sixth season premiere of television’s Number One comedy TWO AND A HALF MEN (9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT), the debut of new comedy WORST WEEK (9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and the seventh season premiere of CSI: MIAMI (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT), the night’s Number One drama.

NCIS begins its sixth season on Tuesday, Sept. 23 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by the new drama THE MENTALIST (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and the seventh season premiere of WITHOUT A TRACE on its new night (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

CBS premieres its new Wednesday comedy block on Sept. 24 with the fourth season of THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT) and new comedy PROJECT GARY (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by the fourth season of CRIMINAL MINDS (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and the fifth season premiere of CSI: NY (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

Premiering on Sunday, Sept. 28 is the 41st season of 60 MINUTES, the longest running and highest rated newsmagazine (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT), the 13th edition of multi-Emmy Award winning THE AMAZING RACE (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), the sixth season of COLD CASE (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and the fourth season premiere of THE UNIT on its new night (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

The Network’s top-rated Friday lineup returns on Oct. 3 with the fourth season premiere of GHOST WHISPERER (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), the debut of the new drama THE EX LIST (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by the fifth season premiere of NUMB3RS (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

The premieres of the Thursday and Friday night dramas have been scheduled outside of premiere week to accommodate the scheduled presidential debate on Sept. 26 and a vice presidential debate on Oct. 2.